Automobile tire chain



Aug. 11, 1931. v A, L, DRAGER 1,818,794

AUTOMOBILL TIRE CHAIN Filed Jan. 16, 1931 Afm-a, @fr

Patented Aug. 11, 1931 AMILI.. DRAGER, oF BELOIT, WISCONSIN PATENT OFFICE AUTOMOBILE TIRE CHAIN j `Appnqanon filed January 1e, 193i.Y seriai Nafsoaais.

This invention relates to certain novel improvements in automobiletire chains, andl has for'its principal object the provision of an improved construction of this character which will be highlyfefcient in use land econoinical in manufacture.'

The salient Object of this invention is to provide an improved chain for automobile tires and, more particularly, to provide a 1,0 chain which will prevent slipping of the tires on icy pavements. Y y Another: object of the invention is'to pro vide a chainwhich yWill not, lin use, injure the tire and which will conform to the shape of 15 the `tire when 'the tire becomes deflated as in the caseof a puncture, leak, or blowout.

Other objects will appear hereinafter. The invention consists in the novel combinatilon and arrangement of parts to be here- ;30 inafter described Land claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference Yto the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of construction and in which: Y v

' 25 Fig.1` is 'a fragmentary side elevational view of a typical automotive vehiclev Wheel v and tire showing'apreferred form of con-` struction of the invention associated therewith f Fig. 2 is a fragmentary planvview of the invention as depictedv in Fig. 1; 'j Fig.'3 is a transverse sectional 'view of the wheel., tire andchain construction as depicted in Figs. l and 2; 1

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of one unit of the chain construction; and y Fig. 5 is a vdetail view of a preferred man ner of'mountingthe calksin thev 'chain construction.

Referring to the drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is depicted, indicated at is the felloe construction of an automotive vehicle wheel,r with which are associated the spokes 11, rim 12,

'45 tire 13 of Which the tread is indicated at 13a,

cated at 15, andVV since these sections are exactly similar in construction, vthe construction of one section will be described in detail, and the tions.

- Each ofthese sections includes a substantially V-shapedelement16 that includes arms 17 joined atthe bight portion 18. A

boss 19 depends from the bight portion 18 ,l and extended through an opening 20 in the C boss l19l is the bight portion 21 of a U-shaped member 21 that includes arms 22' having hooked portions 23 at their ends, and the links 24 of a chainv are engaged by these l hooked portions 23. Each section 15 inchicles a substantially triangular element generically indicated at 25 and each element 25 includes a pairV of arms 26 lbetweenwhich f extends a bar 27, the arms 26 being intercon- I', nccted at the ends opposite the bar 27,' as

indicated at 28. A boss 29, similar to the boss 19, depends frointhe portion 28 and one of the members 21 is associated with each of manner of interconnecting these sec-V they bosses 29 vso as to connect the elements 25 to the chain links 24. Y .Y

The arms 17A include reduced inner end portions-30, and a lug 31 is provided on each end of the bar 27. interconnecting the lugs 31 and the reduced endY portions 30 of the arms I17 are eyebolts 32, it thus being apparent that each element 16 'and the corresponding element 25 are pivoted about the eyebolts 32, asbest shown inFig. 2.

In the outer periphery ofthe elements 16 and 25, as best shown in Fig. 5for the arm 17 of element 16, are' provided threaded re-l cesses 33 and the threaded Shanks .34 of calks 35 are detachably mounted in these recesses, the calks 35 being of any approved type but preferably of the hard steel core and soft ironshell type. As shown in Fig. '2, the eyebolts 32 have ythe looped portions thereof interlocked so as to connect the members 15 together.

Suitable clamping and tensioning means may be provided in the chains 34 and a suitable clamping structure may be provided between two of the eyebolts 32 so asto facilitate mounting the chain structure on a tire. In

use, `whenmyimproved chain structure is mounted on the tires of an automotive vehicle, the vehicle Will be prevented from skid ding on icy pavements by reason of the arrangement of the calls disposed in the elements 16 and 25 of each section l5. To enhance the gripping action of the elements 16 and 25, the outer edges ythereof are beveled to a relatively sharp edge, as indicated at 36, Figs. 2, l and 5.

When the Weight of the vehicle is disposed on one of the sections 15, during motion of the vehicle, the elements 16 and 25 Will flex inwardly at the eyebolts 32 and thereby maintain a relatively Wide gripping surface in contact with the surface over Which the vehicle is moving, this flexing action tending to spread the arms 17 apart from the arms 26, as best seen by reference to Figs. 2 and 3.

By reason of the fact that the surface of the arms 17 and 26 and bars 27 in contact With the tread 13a of the tire is a fiat surface, as indicated at 37 for one yof the arms 17 in Fig. 5, the tread of the tire Will not be damaged by use of the invention.

The hereinbefore described invention, therefor-e, provides a non-skid chain structure for automotive vehicle tires Which is simple in construction, not damaging to the tires, and effective in preventing slridding on icy pavements.

llVhile I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying,

my invention into eect, this is capable of variation and modification, Without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not Wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come Within the scope of the appended claims.

lHaving thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A tire chain comprising a plurality of link sections each including a substantially V-shaped element having reduced end portions, a substantially triangular shaped element including a bar having lugs thereon, means for pivotally connecting said elements including means extended through said lugs and said reduced end portions, said last named means including means for interconnecting said sections, and means for mounting said sections on a tire.

2. A tire chain comprising a plurality of link sections each including a substantially V-shaped element having reduced end por* tions, a substantially triangular shaped element including a bar having lugs thereon, means for pivotally connecting said elements including means extended through said lugs and said reduced end portions, said last named means including means for interconneet-ing said sectionsx a boss depending from the apex of each of said V-shaped elements,

a boss depending from the apex of each of said elements directed toward the side Wall of the tire, flexible members adapted to extend around the side Walls of4 the tire when in operative position, and means for connecting said bosses to said flexible members.

3. A tire chain comprising a plurality of link sections each including a substantially V-shaped element having reduced end portions, al substantially triangular shaped element including a bar having lugs thereon, means for pivotally connecting said elements including means extended through said lugs and said reduced end portions, said last named means including means for interconnecting said sections, and means for mounting said sections on a tire, the sides of said V-shaped elementsV and said triangular shapedelernents presenting a substantially flat surface to the tread of the tire. f

4. A tire chain comprising a plurality of link sections-each including a substantiallyv V-shaped element having reduced end portions, a substantially triangular shaped element including a bar having lugs thereon, means for pivotally connecting said elements including means extended through said lugs and said reduced end portions, said last named means including means for interconnecting said sections, and means for mounting said sections on a tire, the sides of said Vsshaped elements shaped elements presenting a substantially flat surface to the tread of the tire, and the edges of said elements opposite said flat side being beveled.

5. A tire chain comprising a plurality of link sections each including a substantially V-shaped element having reduced `end portions, a substantially triangular shaped element including a bar having lugs thereon, means for pivotally connecting said elements including means extended through said lugs and said reduced end portions, said last named means including means for interconnecting said. sections` means for mounting said sections on a tire, the sides of said V- shaped elements and said triangular shaped elements presenting a substantially flat surface to the tread of the tire, the edges of said elements opposite said flat side being beveled, threaded recesses in said beveled edges, and callrs detachably mounted in said recesses.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

AMIL L.l DRAGER.

and said triangulary 

